12 October 2006
The Department of Corrections continues to receive accolades for its Energy Management Strategy after receiving the Ministry for the Environment Energy Efficiency Award.
Corrections' Energy Manager Cees Ebskamp says this is the second year running Corrections has won the award and recognises the effort the Department has put into reducing its energy usage.
"Since 2002, Corrections has achieved a reduction in energy use of 9.5 percent per prisoner and, when measured against the prison population, we have cut carbon dioxide emissions by 37 percent. This is a very impressive effort," says Mr Ebskamp.
"Corrections launched its Energy Management Strategy in 2002 and appointed a full-time energy manager to capture and contain energy costs. The result has been annual energy savings of about $300,000 per year."
Mr Ebskamp says the award shows the Department is on the right track
"Our goal is to continue reducing our overall energy cost per prisoner and we are constantly monitoring our progress and targeting our efforts where the greatest gains can be made.
"We have incorporated best energy practise in the design of new facilities and building upgrades and extensions at existing sites. We have installed under floor heating the new facilities, allowing the sites to meet building code specifications in the most cost effective way possible," explains Mr Ebskamp.
"We have also installed sensors at new facilities that will automatically switch lights off when a room is vacant or when there is sufficient daylight. All buildings have been designed to maximise the entry of natural light and minimise the need for artificial lighting.
"Solar panels have also been installed on the roofs of the self-care units at Wanganui, Hawkes Bay, Christchurch and Rimutaka Prison and these provide enough energy to meet hot water demand and greatly reduces the energy cost and carbon dioxide emissions of the units," says Mr Ebskamp.
While this is the second time Corrections won this award, the Department was also awarded the EECA EnergyWise prize for its effort in environmental sustainability earlier in the year.